Kien Giang (VNA) - The Mekong Deltaprovince of Kien Giang has been investing in recovering local mangrove forests,improving the livelihoods of coastal residents, combating coastal erosion, andprotecting the environment.

Of its more than 89,600 ha of forestry land,more than 76,200 ha is covered with forests, including 58,000 ha of naturalforests and 18,180 ha of artificial forests.

Local forests, including special-use,protection, and commercial forests, are concentrated in the U Minh Thuong andLong Xuyen Quadrangle areas, the island districts of Phu Quoc and Kien Hai, andsome island communes in Kien Luong district and Ha Tien city.

Forestry coverage in the province now stands at12 percent.

A large number of production models combiningforestry and aquaculture have proven effective, helping raise incomes while protectingforests.

Afforestation is being carried out in the coastalzones of An Bien, An Minh, and Hon Dat districts, funded by the climate changeresponse and green growth programme, in order to cope with coastal erosion.

Projects to form alluvial ground for plantingmangrove forests and protecting sea dykes have been implemented. As a result,35 ha of forest in the coastal areas of An Bien district’s Nam Thai commune andanother 50 ha along the coast from Binh Son to Binh Giang communes in Hon Datdistrict have taken shape.

Kien Giang has also revised its forestry zoningplans to maintain an appropriate area of special-use and protected forests andconvert poorly-performing commercial forests into agricultural land.

Forestry protection has also been entrusted to localhouseholds, who are in turn permitted to use forests to earn a living.

Authorities have also promoted forestenvironment leasing, in which ecotourism is associated with forestryconservation and development.

Kien Giang has also taken strong action to manageand protect local natural forests, including closing all such areas andprohibiting any activities harmful to forests.

Relevant forces coordinated with authorities lastyear to prosecute 177 cases violating the Law on Forestry, collecting fines ofmore than 2 billion VND (87,200 USD).

Thanks to such efforts, deforestation, forestencroachment, and illegal resources exploitation have been contained, keepingthe forest area stable./.